Eqmac or Eqmod?

[Galaxyfaraway]

Any mac users out there? I want to run Eqmod but have a mac. I also run parallels. From reading various posts it seems Eqmod may cause problems to mac users who run paralels? Is this correct? (perhaps it was due to a faulty set up etc).

Does anyone run an Eqmod on a mac or an Eqmac? I can't work out which one is better to install to avoid issues.

Thanks, gfa

[Ouroboros]

Interesting question, and one I'd like to know the answer to. I too run parallels on a Mac but haven't yet got around to trying EQMOD or EQMac. I am going to have a try at EQMOD in the next week or two hopefully and see what happens. I know that I can't use the Mac version of PHD2 (I've tried it) because there aren't drivers for my QHY5-II guide camera for a Mac.

[Galaxyfaraway]

I am inclined going with Eqmod on parallels first and see how that goes...I haven't got the Eqdir cable yet so can't try yet.

[perfrej]

If parallels gives you trouble you may consider switching to VMWare Fusion, which offers better virtualization and device handling. The free VirtualBox may also work fine.

/per

[Ouroboros]

Interesting to know about VMWare Fusion. Would I be right in assuming that transferring to VMWare would involve re-installing Windows and all software etc?

[D4N]

Fusion can convert a parallels machine so it can run it. So long as you leave the hardware settings the same then Windows shouldn't know the difference.

The problem you will get with eqmac is the lack of support software. You can use CDC or Stellarium to point the scope but plate solving is a pain. I have installed astrometry on my Mac but I don't have any software that will automatically plate solve and align the scope in OSX.

The amount of software for OSX is steadily growing as macs have become more popular. There is also a lot of Linux software available some of which can be made to run in OSX.

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[Starlight 1]

I've just moved from Windows computer to my mac computer, and struggling to get all the programs talking to each other, so far Stellarium works okay, nebulosity 4 works, phd2? Still more work on this one, eqmac still not working.

[freiform]

I am running EQmac occasionally and it works fine. Mainly, though, I use Windows 7 running in a VMware Fusion VM. There I use EQmod, Cartes du Ceil, FireCapture, PHD2, APT, etc. My Nikon and Canon DSLR as well my Philips Webcam and ASI120MM work fine. Of course, you cannot access the devices from OS X and the VM simultaneously. 

Anyway, if you already own Parallels, I would think that it can handle this just as well. 

[Starlight 1]

Can't seem to get anything working two night all it keep doing is locking the computer out,  investigating again on Friday.

[D4N]

I've just moved from Windows computer to my mac computer, and struggling to get all the programs talking to each other, so far Stellarium works okay, nebulosity 4 works, phd2? Still more work on this one, eqmac still not working.

I find PHD2 works great in OSX but it does depend on what guide camera you have as there isn't support for everything.

The PHD2 Google group is very helpful if you can't get it to work on your setup.

I prefer CDC to Stellarium simply because it is lighter on resources.

Lock ups I've experienced are normally USB issues, since the keyboard and trackpad are run off the USB bus if a device locks it up you lose control of the computer. The computer may actually be working fine just you have no control over it. Unplugging the USB devices may restore it otherwise you need to power down. Try alternating USB ports. The planetary camera is often the culprit as it sends masses of data.

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